Thursday 31st July 2009. The footballing world came to a stand still as a true legend of the game, a tactical master and one of the most loved men in football, Sir Bobby Robson sadly passed away aged 76.
Sir Bobby managed all over Europe: in England with Fulham, Ipswich and, of course, Newcastle United; in the Netherlands with PSV, in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and Porto and Spain with Catalan giants Barcelona, as well as managing the England national team.
He was a footballing mastermind who touched everybody involved with the beautiful game.
With the sixth year anniversary of his tragic death now upon us. I am going to take a trip down memory lane and write up my top five most iconic Sir Bobby moments as Newcastle manager.
Sir Bobby’s first game as manager
After the appointment of Sir Bobby, the fans were thrilled and optimistic at the thought of one of the the world’s best managers taking charge of their beloved club. At the time, Newcastle were rock bottom of the league table, but it was a childhood dream of Sir Bobby’s, so he took the job.
The Geordie faithful’s optimism soon increased after Robson’s first game in charge against Sheffield Wednesday.
A depleted bunch of players were immediately transformed into a slick, confident team that delivered a memorable and entertaining 8-0 win against Wednesday.
Alan Shearer returned from a lengthy absence and silenced the critics, who claimed he was ‘finished’ by netted five against the Owls. Robson’s words of encouragement making an instant impact on Newcastle’s highest scoring player of all time.
This was something that the Newcastle fans had gone months without witnessing – a top drawer performance – and they were delighted, but also astonished at just how quickly Sir Bobby’s arrival impacted the players. The stuff of legends.
Ending the ‘no wins in London’ curse
December 2001 – four years since the Magpies had won a game in London and this was something that irritated the fans – who would travel miles just to watch their beloved team lose there, time and time again. They spent a lot of their time, energy and well-earned money just to be left disappointed and frustrated. Many thought it would never end.
Until a trip to Highbury in December 2001. A match against an Arsenal side challenging at the top of the Premier League table, alongside Newcastle. Nobody thought Sir Bobby and his reignited side could pick up three points.
The first half of this game saw Robson’s side being dominated by the Gunners, until a red card for Ray Parlour gave them a glimmer of hope.
That hope soon faded away as Craig Bellamy picked up an idiotic red card to join Parlour down the tunnel. Following his sending off, Arsenal began to ruthlessly attack again, but Robson’s side would not give in. Two incisive counter attacks by Robson’s side saw Newcastle net twice and eventually end their London curse.
The unforgettable Champions League night in Rotterdam
A lot of football fans know the famous statistic that Newcastle are the only team to ever qualify from a Champions League group having lost their three opening matches.
Sir Bobby and his team suffered three opening losses against Juventus, Dynamo Kiev and Feyenood and, even having witnessed Sir Bobby’s miracles to that date, it looked an impossible task to get out of the group stages. But, back-to-back wins against Kiev and, rather amazingly, Juventus, Newcastle were just one win away from stunningly qualifying for the next round.
The game that stood in their was an away trip to Feyenoord in Rotterdam – a must win. Chaos erupted as Newcastle went two goals up, thanks to goals from Craig Bellamy and Hugo Viana, but it was short-lived. Feyenoord soon pulled two goals back and the Geordie faithful were left speechless, but Sir Bobby didn’t panic, not one bit. He famously looked at his players and told them to ‘think’. That one word gave the team more inspiration than anyone could have imagined.
With continued support from the stands, Bellamy scored an unforgettable third goal in the final minutes of the game and Newcastle were through to the next round. A night Newcastle fans will savour forever.
Leading Newcastle to the Nou Camp
Newcastle playing at the Nou Camp in the Champions League. A sentence that back in 1999, when Sir Bobby Robson was appointed and the club were bottom of the league, Newcastle fans thought they would never say. But the mastermind lead his beloved Newcastle to one of the most iconic stadiums in the world of football.
The year was 2002 and, as pictures emerged of Robson inspecting the pitch, excitement among the fans grew.
Sir Bobby Robson locked horns with then Barcelona managed Louis van Gaal. He made the decision to play 4-4-2 with Shola Ameobi and Lomana LuaLua upfront – a decision that surprised the fans, but no-one questioned his tactics.
After going 1-0 down after just seven minutes to a goal from Dani Garca, Newcastle began launching a number of counter attacks and stunned the Spaniards with an equaliser from the one and only Shola Ameobi. Yes, Shola scored at the Nou Camp.
The team showed plenty of fight and passion, and it is all the Geordie faithful ever asked for. Even though Van Gaal’s side emerged as eventual 3-1 winners, it was a night not to be forgotten for those on Tyneside.
What is a club in any case?
Sir Bobby Robson, while mainly being remembered for his footballing knowledge, will also be remember for his honest and inspirational quotes. He was full of wisdom and he truly proved that over the years. One quote that any football fan will remember, and relate to, is the one in which he answers the question – what is a club? His response struck a cord with footballing fans from around the world.
“What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes. It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.”
A truly brilliant response, and it captured the hearts of football fans around the world – as well as showcasing Sir Bobby’s love for the game.
It is hard to put into words the legacy left behind by Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle United. A Durham-born man, he arrived when many fans were down in the dumps. The team was disorganised and broken, but he turned us into a top four Premier League side, competing in the Champions League. It’s safe to say I don’t think we’ll see the Champions League at St. James’ Park again for a long, long time. It goes to show just how stunning Sir Bobby’s reign was at the club. A footballing mastermind, filled with honesty and passion in his heart – his legacy will forever be embedded in Newcastle United folklore.
